Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26M by Ricard

Year built	2005
Location of boat	Torredembarra, Mediterranean
The boat is sailed on	Open ocean
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	less than 10 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2005
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes, i would. I think that it was a great idea to buy it, but you gotta know what the boat is good for. My satisfaction comes from the flexibility, trailering it to different places for holydays is just great. The dual behaviour is also great. The roommy design is something also impossible in other boats of this size.
Gear that's been added	I am about to install an autopilot, but I think that I will install a power boat one.
Structural or complex improvements	I did not add too much, jsut the geennaker staff, but I haven't used it yet.I installed a shower, a flexible water tank (70 liters, an electrical water pump, a tap, a second door in the Galley, internal organizing boxes into the galley, courtins, external bags for the ropes, some wood pieces to organize magazines, wc paper, towels, cups, trash bags, compass, and...I think that's all so far.
The boat's best features	The flexibility that I commentad above.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	I am not sure, it seems to have a bit of side to side movement, I gues this is due to the low displacement. Also, in my opinion, with the lack of side corridors, all the sailing staff should be sent to the cockpit area, then you won't need to go to the front part. I got most of it done, I only have to arrange the reefing system. I know that the Spanish dealer offers that now, it was not the case two years ago, pitty.Also, the trailering system, it is not clear from the leagl pint of view in Europe, as far as I discovered myself, the axes and the break system are quite not weel legalized at least in Spain. Also, if you put the trailer in the water (using the ramps) what would happen with all the metall parts of the breaks. I always use a tower (I am talking about sea waters).
Sailing characterisitcs	I haven't sailed so much, I have gone out of the port 50 times in the 2 years I got it and I sailed about 20 times. It is nice to sail, and easy to do it solo. I did one regatta and it did behave very well (8 knot wind), I was able to race some bigger boats with much more sail area. The geennaker would have helped if I used it. I usually sail with less than 100% sail because I just want to relax in the sea, just gib, or just main or half jib at full main. I leave sapce to my wife to sunbath in the front part...
Motoring characterisitcs	I tried the motor capacities several times, did get about 10 knots speed at much less than full power, so I beleave that it can reach 12 knots for sure. I usually go at 6-7 knots or even less to relax myself. I have a suzuky 4 strokes 50hp and it had some trouble with the sparks during the first year but now runs great.
Liveability	I usually use it for day sailing but in summer time we use it to live in our Mac. Last summer we took it on the trailer, drove 100km (60 miles), toke a ferry to Ibiza and sailed there for two weeks living on board. It was a great experience, it is good for the 2 of us. I gues that it could also be good for two adults and two chindren but not more than that for more than a few days.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I bought it through the dealer in Spain and was good at the beginning and then it depends on personal affinities, not too bad...but could be better.
Other comments	I just want to point out that this is boat I was looking for, I can do many different thing with it, maybe I am not the best sailor in the world but for me this is the best boat. I do not know if, in the future, I would buy a bigger one, I appreciate leaving the port by myself, not needing any assitance, saying in many different areas, going to the French channels in the future, returning to port as far as I need, and just sitting on it relaxing in a summer night in the mediterranean.Just great!

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